Posted: Jun 08, 2014 4:42 pm
The only thing I can say that's positive about Buddhism is that it contains fewer dangerous and backwards ideas as some other religions out there. But in practice, it's still as divisive as any other religion and based entirely on conning (grieving and desperate) people out of their money, because you have no legitimate use to society. For all of its claims of lack of materialism, I've never seen a Buddhist temple without a collection box, and I've never seen monks turn up to someone's funeral for free. And you only have to ask a Sri Lankan Hindu or a Burmese Muslim just how likely Buddhists are to abhor violence. Like every other religion, it becomes another excuse for simple in-group/out-group thinking.
On the other hand, I think it's refreshing to see a religious leader who admits that his status gives him no special knowledge or input into questions of morality.
On the other hand, I think it's refreshing to see a religious leader who admits that his status gives him no special knowledge or input into questions of morality.